- Swedish version originally published on http://swegore.wordpress.com/
Title: Phenomena
Genre: Giallo
Director: Dario Argento
Actors:
Jennifer Connelly
Daria Nicolodi
Donald Pleasence
Production year:1985
Package: 1 DVD Disc Keep Case
Runtime: 110 minutes
Subtitles: No
Language: English
Bonus materials:
Audio Commentary with Dario Argento, Sergio Stivaletti, Claudio Simonetti and Loris Curri
A DARK FAIRY TALE
LUIGI COZZI AND THE ART OF MACROPHOTOGRAPHY
Dario Argento on THE JOE FRANKLIN SHOW
Music videos – JENNIFER and VALLEY
Trailer
Dario Argento Biography
Distributor: Anchor Bay
UPC-code: 0131314847-3
Writer: Christer Persson
Plot:
When arriving to a boarding school in Switzerland, young Jennifer (Jennifer Connelly) is quickly drawn into a horrifying series of events involving murders, monkeys, insects and sleepwalking!
Entomologist John McGregor (Donald Pleasance) is able to pinpoint the time of a murder with the aid of “The eight squadrons of death!” which is the lifecycle of the common housefly. By studying a decomposing head of a victim, McGregor helps the police to identify the victim to that of a missing Danish schoolgirl. There have been several cases of missing persons in the area, like McGregors maid Greta. Since he is sitting in a wheelchair, he is dependent of help. Luckily, he has his monkey Inga who can help him with some easier tasks around the house.
After a bad combination of sleepwalking and no thanks to two moronic yuppies, Jennifer finds herself at McGregors house. From here on the things, starts to fall into place and at the same time really get out of hand. Jennifer realises that she has a psychic connection to insects and together with a housefly (!), she is able to find the house where the killer has been lurking. When the net is closing on the killer there is no escape from the terror that will surface.
AUDIO / VIDEO
The dolby surround 5.1 audio is a treat. Although Argento went haywire with some heavy metal tunes in this one, parts of the soundtrack is pure candy for my ears. Simonettis “Jennifer” made me crank up the volume several steps (Italian progressive metal band Rhapsody of Fire actually made a cover of this song a couple of years ago), and Bill Wymans “Valley” is perfect example of a sweeping haunting tune to match the tone of the film.. Oh, yes, a small portion of Goblins “Safari” from the DAWN OF THE DEAD soundtrack can be heard playing on a television set.
The dialogue is well produced, even though some of the voice actors are sub-par, especially the one dubbing Daria Nocolodi.
This was the first time I saw the film in anamorphic widescreen. I wasn’t disappointed at all. PHENOMENA is one of the last great pictures Argento made (OPERA being the last) and his visual style is still burning itself onto the viewers eyes. The expert handling of lightning and the stylish camera movements still impresses, and makes me remember why I saw this film countless times in the mid eighties! For the first time, thanks to the widescreen format, I could spot a scene that is reminiscent of David Hemmings first walk into the murder scene in Argentos classic DEEP RED! In which scene? you might ask. Well, it is for me to know and for you to find out, so just buy the DVD dammit!
The picture is quite clear, but not perfect. With the entry of HD-television and Blu-Ray, we get somewhat spoiled with crisp clear and flawless picture. Anchor Bay has noting to be ashamed of though. This is, to my knowledge, the best version of PHENOMENA available!
Bonus material
First off is the audio Commentary with Dario Argento, Sergio Stivaletti, Claudio Simonetti and Loris Curri. It does not matter how many interesting anecdotes Argento is giving away on the film, it is so difficult at times to hear what he is saying because of his broad Italian accent. Journalist Curri is doing a great job asking questions and he seems to know what he’s talking about. The other two commentaries with Stivalett and Simonetti are easier to make out, and even I who though I knew all about the film learned a thing or two.
A DARK FAIRY TALE is a featurette by David Gregory about PHENOMENA and is brand new! Interviews with: Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi, Fiore Argento (who also was in Lamberto Bavas DEMONS), Stivaletti, Cozzi makes A DARK FAIRY TALE is 18 minutes of pure entertainment.
LUIGI COZZI AND THE ART OF MACROPHOTOGRAPHY is a short with the late Luigi Cozzi teling about his collaboration with Dario Argento. Albeit the title suggests to explain how Cozzi utilized the macrophotography in PHENOMENA, the footage seems to be cut from some other documentary since he also talks about other effects which definitive has nothing at all to do with macrophotography. A little gem is Dario Argento on THE JOE FRANKLIN SHOW. This segment from a TV-show is from 1985, and Argento is in full Prince Valiant mode, is very jovial and as usual VERY difficult to understand!
We also get no less than two music videos! Jennifer, which is directed by Dario himself, and Valley, directed by Michele Soavi (who also appears in a small role as a cop and was the second unit director of PHENOMENA). A Trailer for PHENOMENA is included as well as a Dario Argento Biography.
All in all, Anchor Bay has once again succeeded to give an Italian classic movie a new chance to meet an new audience as well as the old fans, and fills the DVD with excellent bonus material.
Summary
My initial impression after seeing PHENOMENA again after many years is how well it has aged. Like a good wine, it has matured over the years and its full body has developed. Argento at the time still had a lot of energy and some of the visuals in the film are breathtaking. Of course there’s a lot that can be said about the acting (or the voice acting) and the psychic connection between Jennifer and the insects. But the last time I checked no-one really watches an Argentomovie for its coherent plot, well developed characters or logic. It is all about the visuals, the music, the murders and the stylish package! PHENOMENA never really manages to be compared with the classic Argento like SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, DEEP RED, but is still a hell of a lot better than most movies made in Italy at the same time.
Much of the film credit must go to Jennifer Connelly who makes a solid performance and she really had a stunning look at the time (well, she’s better looking now, but I was 15 when the film was released and I couldn’t see enough of her). But her cool looks, her low key acting and her chemistry with both Nicolodi and Pleasance makes you look the other way when it comes to the insect connection. Pleasance does his best in the role of McGregor, but I can’t really figure out what kind of accent he tries to speak? This was the last time Nicolodi worked for Argento until his latest effort LA TERZA MADRE, where she plays Asia Argentos mother (which should be easy since she is). In the featurette she tells that at the time PHENOMENA was shot, the eyes that had been looking at her so lovingly before, was now looking at her with hate. Maybe that was one reason why the two has not been working together for twenty-two years.
As usual with a classic Argentomovie it´s the murders that are the real motive for the movie, and PHENOMENA delivers some great scenes. The opening sequence with Fiora Argento as the Danish Vera Brant is intense and exiting, especially the final moments with the glass window, as well as the other window scene in the film (a nod to DEEP RED, SUSPIRIA and INFERNO perhaps?). The sleepwalking sequences are as exquisite as the maggot pit in the end is repulsing. PHENOMENA were Sergio (DEMONS, THE CHURCH, THE SECT) Stivalettis first collaboration with Argento and his F/X are good, as are the ones made by old-timers Corridori. It is graphic, violent and very much Argento.
The one main objection I have against PHENOMENA is the use of heavy metal music (and I’m a heavy metal freak!). In a film like, lets say DEMONS for instance, metal music helped heighten the suspense, editing and the action in the movie, but Argentos movies are not made for the popcorn eating audience. Argentos movies works best with instrumental music like in DEEP RED, TENEBRAE, INFERNO and SUSPIRIA (which has one of the best horrormovie soundtracks ever produced). So, the parts with Simonettis music the film feels harmonic, but as soon as Iron Maiden or Motorhead starts playing, you get distanced from the PHENOMENA flow and language. Too bad no one could have talked Argento out of using those songs. Second objection is the cover to the DVD. I thought my cover was covered in dust or something, but is was some graphic decision from whoever made the cover. Not good, and why the hell didn’t Anchor Bay use the beautiful painting by E. Sciotti that is inserted in the sleeve as the cover art?
If you have not seen anything of Dario Argentos movies before, PHENOMENA is a good introduction. It is not as violent as the older movies and has a more linear story, but it is full of the visual stunts and musical brilliance that makes an Argentomovie. See it or the bedbugs might bite!
Three thing I learned from the movie:
- Never trust a chimpanse with a razor
- Wanna find a corpse? Follow the flies!
- It´s easier to buy a lot of sheets to cover up a lot of mirrors, rather than taking the mirrors away?
Three things to look forward to in the movie:
- The murder scenes in Argentocsope!
- The sleepwalking-scenes!
- The opening sequence
TAGLINE: Wanted: Sleepwalking teenager seeks flies to solve murders! Call Jennifer at 555-555 555
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